The family and Divorce (early 1900

"When one marriage in twelve ended in divorce, there were legitimate grounds for concernaE (O'Neill). Anti-divorce leaders felt that their time to salvage marriage was running out. The nation viewed that the problem branched from moral and social problems. Divorce was seen as an immoral act and religious couples avoided it in order to evade becoming social outcast. The church insisted that divorce was a threat to the physical, mental, and spiritual survival of humans. Many people felt that with out the suppression of divorce they would socially drowned.

Fingers were being pointed towards women because it was believed that their main concern was to protect the family. Women were also accused of being spoiled, romantic, impatient, and jealous of men. Divorce was occurring because women endeavored to escape the traditional role of housewives and caretakers. Even adultery was no excuse for divorce because men were said to be "instinctively promiscuousaE. Critics say wives must look past adultery for the greater good of the family.

The women of the early 1900's felt discriminated against and were interested in a reform of the whole marriage system. Feminists were disposed to protect divorce